Method of forming a hyperbolic paraboloid construction component



J. F. M DERMOTT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN E moznuorr M/(f W AHarner Aug. 5, 1969 METHOD OF FORMING A HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID CONSTRUCTION COMPONENT Filed Ju1 '29, 1966 .h d 8| II M IIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIF 8 I I. 2\ III I I Aug. 5, 1969 J. F. M DERMOTT 3,458,919

METHOD OF FORMING A HYPERBQLIC PARABOLOID CONSTRUCTION COMPONENT Filed July 29, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEIV TOR. JOHN F. MDERMOTT Attorney United States Patent 3 458 919 METHOD OF FORMING A HYPERBOLIC PARAB- OLOID CONSTRUCTION COMPONENT John F. McDermott, Monroeville, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 29, 1966, Ser. No. 568,954 Int. Cl. B23p 11/02 US. Cl. 29-446 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The method of the disclosure comprises loosely affixing an elongated metal strip edge member to the underside of a corrugated metal panel at two opposed edges thereof extending transversely of the corrugations of the panel. The edge members are loosely fastened to the panel by means of threaded studs which project upwardly from the edge members through elongated slots in the valleys of the panel members; and bolts threaded on the studs over washers which, in turn, overlie the slots in the panel. After the panel and edge members have been thus loosely assembled, two diametrically opposed corners of the assembly are bent downwardly out of the horizontal plane containing the other two corners of the assembly. After the bending operation, the nuts are tightened on the studs to fix the assembly in hyperbolic paraboloidal shape.

The present invention relates generally to the construction art and more particularly to an improved method of forming a metal hyperbolic paraboloid construction component.

The use of hyperbolic paraboloidal shaped components in construction to achieve structures of distinctive and appealing as well as efiiciently utilitarian architectural design has become increasingly widespread during recent years. This geometric configuration lends itself aesthetically, economically and beneficially to use in an almost infinite variety of architectural designs for all types of structures.

Prior to my invention, hyperbolic paraboloid construction components made of wood, concrete, fiberglass, plastic and other non-metallic materials were used extensively in building various structures and parts of structures. The use of hyperbolic paraboloid components made of metal, such as steel, was relatively limited due to the difficulty and expense involved in forming and fixing in shape a metal structural component having the geometric configuration of a hyperbolic paraboloid.

It is, accordingly, the primary object of my invention to provide an improved method of fabricating a metal hyperbolic paraboloid construction component wherein the physical properties of a corrugated sheet metal panel together with underlying metal transverse edge members are utilized to economically and easily produce a metal hyperbolic paraboloid construction component having a positively fixed shape.

This and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, with some parts omitted for clarity, of a metal panel and edge member assembly prior to forming into a hyperbolic paraboloid construction component in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of a transverse edge of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view, with a portion cut away for clarity, of a metal panel and edge member as sembly prior to forming into a hyperbolic paraboloid construction component in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a metal hyperbolic 3,458,919 Patented Aug. 5, 1969 "ice paraboloid construction component fabricated in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, with a portion cut away for clarity, of a modified form of a metal hyperbolic paraboloid construction component fabricated in accordance with my invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial view in perspective of a building structure having a roof made up of a plurality of hyperbolic paraboloid construction components of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 designates generally a hyperbolic paraboloid construction component formed in accordance with the invention. As best shown in FIGURE 4, component 2 includes a rectangular corrugated metal sheet panel 4 having longitudinally extending alternate ribs 6 and valleys 8; and an elongated metal strip edge member 10 is fixedly secured to the panel 4 underlying each of the transverse edges 12 thereof by means of threaded studs 14 having nuts 16 threaded thereon. The studs 14 are integral with and project upwardly from the edge members 10 through longitudinally extending slotted openings 20 in the valleys 8 of the panel 4. If desired, other fastening means, such as bolts (not shown) can be used for securing the panel and edge members together.

If desired, to achieve maximum rigidity an elongated stiffener member (not shown) may be fixedly secured as by welding or the like to the component 2 underlying the longitudinal edges thereof.

In practicing the method of the invention to form the hyperbolic paraboloid construction component 2, edge members 10 are loosely afiixed to the underside of the transverse edges 12 of the undeformed corrugated panel 4 with the threaded studs 14 fitted through the slotted openings 20. A slotted opening 20 is formed in each of the valleys 8 adjacent each end thereof. Washers 18 are then dropped over the studs overlying the slotted openings 20 and the nuts 16 are threaded loosely on the studs 14 above the washers 18, as best shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. The nuts 16 and washers 18 fit snug enough to prevent the corrugated sheet panel 4 from lifting off of the edge members 10 during subsequent fabrication operations but they are loose enough to permit the panel 4 to slide transversely of the edge members 10. The studs 14 also serve to limit movement of panel 4 longitudinally along the edge members during subsequent fabrication steps.

After the edge members 10 have been thus loosely secured to the panel 4, the assembly of the panel and edge members may be deformed into hyperbolic paraboloidal shape by applying force to and depressing two opposite corners 22 thereof. It will be noted, that the loosely assembled panel 4 and edge members 10 may be deformed into hyperbolic paraboloidal shape by moving at least one but not more than three corners thereof out of the plane containing the remaining corners. The assembly may be secured in a suitable jig (not shown) while being bent into hyperbolic paraboloidal shape.

During the warping of the corrugated sheet panel 4 that occurs when the assembly is deformed into the desired hyperbolic paraboloidal shape, the studs 14 move along the slotted openings 20.

The final configuration of the construction component 2 in hyperbolic paraboloidal shape is fixed by tightening the nuts 16 so that there is sufiicient friction between the transverse edges 12 of the corrugated panel 4 and the edge members 10 to prevent springback and sliding. Thus, a fixed-shape hyperbolic paraboloid construction component, as best shown in FIGURE 4, is obtained which cannot revert to its fiat, undeformed original shape, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

FIGURE illustrates a modified embodiment of the hyperbolic paraboloid construction component of the invention, designated generally by reference numeral 2', wherein the edge members are in the shape of angle sections to facilitate assembly of a plurality of components in a building structure as shown in FIGURE 6.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A method of forming a hyperbolic paraboloid construction component which comprises the steps of first providing a corrugated panel having four coplanar corners and having longitudinally extending alternate ribs and valleys and longitudinally extending slotted openings in each of said valleys adjacent each end thereof, loosely aflixing an elongated edge member to the underside of said panel at two opposed edges thereof extending transversely of said ribs and valleys and underlying said slotted openings for relative sliding movement longitudinally of said panel, then moving at least one but not more than three corners of the assembled panel and edge members out of the plane containing the remaining corners to form a hyperbolic paraboloidal shape, providing a plurality of upright elongated connecting means spaced along and integral with each of said edge members and said step of loosely affixing elongated edge members to the underside of said panel including loosely fitting said elongated connecting means through the slotted openings in said panel, and then fixedly securing said panel to said underlying edge members including providing compression means on said connecting means bearing against said panel to thereby lock said panel and said edge members together.

2. A method of forming a hyperbolic paraboloid construction component as defined by claim 1 characterized by said step of loosely afiixing elongated edge members to the underside of said panel including loosely fitting elongated connecting means through each of said slotted openings and the edge member underlying the same, and the step of fixedly securing said panel to said underlying edge members including supplying compression means on said connecting means bearing against said panel and said edge members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,669,010 2/1954 Perkins 29-446 3,070,845 1/1963 Cheskin 29-446 X 3,200,026 8/1965 Brown 29-446 3,263,322 8/1966 Brown 29-446 3,300,839 1/1967 Lichti 29-446 3,357,089 12/1967 Larsen 29-446 CHARLIE T. MOON, Primary Examiner R. B. LAZARUS. Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3,458 ,919 August 5 1969 John F. McDermott It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1 line 19 "members" should read member Column 4, line 2, "then" should read the step of Signed and sealed this 9th day of June 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

